Watermelon Footbag Crochet Pattern

Retro Hacky Sack

Looking for a fun crochet project that's quick to make and perfect for summer? Retro Footbags (aka Hacky Sacks) are the absolute craze again! I decided to design a Watermelon-themed Footbag Crochet Pattern to combine nostalgic retro vibes with a fresh watermelon design to create a playful crochet hacky sack that's great for kids, teens, and adults too.

You can use these hacky sacks for backyard games, summer camp activities, party favors, or just a quick handmade gift for someone special. This crochet footbag works up really quickly and you don't need much yarn which makes a fantastic stash-busting project.

I intentionally made this design with no decreases so that it's beginner-friendly. I also think it looks better like this...

Scroll down for the Free version, but if you prefer an ad-free printable, you can purchase it for a small fee from my shop.

Why You'll Love This Crochet Watermelon Footbag

• Quick and beginner-friendly project (no decreases)
• Uses only small amounts of yarn
• Great stash buster
• Portable and travel-friendly
• Fun summer gift idea
• Perfect for retro 90s-inspired crochet collections

What Is a Footbag (Hacky Sack)?

A footbag, often called a hacky sack, is a small ball designed to be kicked and kept in the air without using your hands. You're allowed to use only your feet, knees, shoulders, and head. Popularized in the 1980s and 1990s, footbags remain a fun outdoor activity that encourages coordination, balance, and movement.

It's a fun activity that helps improve coordination, balance, and agility while encouraging active play.

This watermelon version adds a cheerful fruity twist to a classic game.

How To Play the Hacky Sack

Basic Circle Game

1. Stand in a circle with one or more players.
2. One player drops the hacky sack and kicks it into the air.
3. Players take turns kicking, kneeing, or otherwise redirecting the sack.
4. The goal is to keep it from touching the ground for as long as possible.
5. If it drops, simply start again and try to beat your previous record.

What Body Parts Can You Use?

Most casual players use:

• Feet
• Knees
• Thighs
• Shoulders
• Head

Hands and arms are generally not allowed.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the Start Crochet links. Please see my disclosure for more details.

Materials Needed

• DK weight yarn:
  • Green
  • White
  • Watermelon pink/red
  • Black (optional for seeds)
• 3 mm or 3.5 mm crochet hook (depending on size of footbag you'd like)
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Filling (see options below)

Filling Options

You want your footbag to be the correct weight so that people can actually play with it properly. Ideally, you're aiming for 40 to 60 grams. For beginners, go for a lighter footbag, for more advanced players, go for a heavier one.

To create a properly weighted footbag, you have various filling options, each with their pros & cons:

• Poly pellets
• Plastic craft pellets
• Virgin polypropylene pellets
• Recycled plastic pellets
• Dried beans, corn, rice, chickpeas or lentils work fine, but any food item risks moisture damage, attract insects & pests, and have a limited lifespan.
• Sand

Most people put loose filling inside a small fabric pouch, balloon or pantyhose before inserting into the crochet piece to make sure they don't leak out. However, I have heard some hacky sack players say they actually like taking out some of the filling to adjust and get the perfect weight for their sack.

Abbreviations Used in Pattern

• mc = magic circle
• sc = single crochet
• inc = work 2 single crochet into the same stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches
• fo = fasten off

Skill Level

Beginner

Measurements/Size

Approximately 2.5" (6.5 cm) wide x 3.5" (8 cm) high x 6" (15.5 cm) in circumference.

Yardage

I used about 20 m for this project (22 yards)

Gauge

10 stitches and 10 rows = 5 cm

Notes

You can make the pattern larger or smaller by either: changing the yarn weight and/or hook size, adding or reducing the number of rounds of Part 2 (bottom). 

- Numbers at the end of each row (in brackets) indicate the number of final stitches in that row. 

- We will be working in continuous rounds.

- Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round.

- Adjust hook size if your stitches are too loose.

- Please note that I use US crochet terms.

Watermelon Footbag Crochet Pattern Instructions

Part 1 (Top):

With Red/Pink Yarn

Round 1: 6 sc in MC. (6). Pull your MC closed.

Note: If you don’t know how to work a Magic Circle, start with a ch 2, and work 6 sc into the second ch from your hook. Use your stitch marker to keep track of the 1st stitch of each round.

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Round 3: (Sc, inc) around. (18)

Round 4: (2 sc, inc) around. (24)

Round 5: (3 sc, inc) around. (30)

Leave a short tail, cut yarn and fasten off.

Switch to White Yarn
Note: Try to work over your yarn tails so you don't have to weave them in later.

Round 6: Sc around. Sl st to join. (30)

Leave a short tail, cut yarn and fasten off.

Watermelon Seeds

Cut about an arm's length of black yarn and embroider small seed shapes randomly across the pink/red section of the watermelon with your yarn needle.

Part 2 (Bottom):

With Green Yarn

Round 1: 6 sc in MC. (6) Pull you MC closed. Place stitch marker in the first stitch of the next round.

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

Round 3: (Sc, inc) around. (18)

Round 4: (2 sc, inc) around. (24)

Round 5: (3 sc, inc) around. (30)

Round 6-10: Sc around. (5 rounds, 30 sts)

Note: Add your filling and weigh your footbag. If you're making this for more advanced players, add a couple of rounds to make a heavier footbag. Remove filling.

Leave an arm's length of yarn, cut yarn and fasten off.

Joining 2 Parts

Remove your stitch marker and thread your long yarn tail onto your yarn needle. 

Align the yarn tail of the top (Part 1) with the working yarn of the bottom (Part 2). Make sure all your yarn tails are tucked into the watermelon.

Start whip stitching the 2 parts together one stitch at a time (either through both loops of both green & white sts, or through both loops of the green part and the top loop of the white) about 2/3 of the way around. Pull tightly after each stitch and make sure you stitch consistently in the same direction throughout.

Filling

Begin stuffing firmly with your chosen filling (see options above)

Continue to stitch the remaining 1/3rd of the sack.

Leave a short tail, cut yarn and fasten off.

Weave in your ends neatly.

And there you have it! Your very own watermelon hacky sack footbag! Who are you making this for? Let me know in the commends below.

Happy hooking!

May

More Fun Crochet Projects

If you enjoyed this watermelon footbag, you might also like:

• Crochet Pumpkin Appliqués
• Crochet Worry Worms
• 10-Minute Crochet Coasters

Share Your Project

I'd love to see your finished Watermelon Footbag! If you make one, share your photos and tag me on social media so I can admire your work.